Wild Precious Life

Brad Peacock is a veteran, an organic farmer, and a former candidate for the United States Senate. He's also an author who has been featured in  7 days ,  VT Digger ,  The Washington Blade , and  The New York Times . He lives with his husband on land that he is rehabilitating with native plants and flowers. James Crews is the author of numerous prize-winning collections of poetry. He runs an onlin...

Brad Peacock is a veteran, an organic farmer, and a former candidate for the United States Senate. He's also an author who has been featured in 7 days, VT Digger, The Washington Blade, and The New York Times. He lives with his husband on land that he is rehabilitating with native plants and flowers. James Crews is the author of numerous prize-winning collections of poetry. He runs an online writin...

Jennifer Cramer-Miller is a writer, speaker, and joy seeker. She’s the Minnesota Board Chair for the National Kidney Foundation, and a Donate Life Ambassador for LifeSource. She’s also the author of the award-winning memoir, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope , which is available now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Jennifer discuss kidney failure, unconditional love, and how t...

Jennifer Cramer-Miller is a writer, speaker, and joy seeker. She’s the Minnesota Board Chair for the National Kidney Foundation, and a Donate Life Ambassador for LifeSource. She’s also the author of the award-winning memoir, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, which is available now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Jennifer discuss kidney failure, unconditional love, and how th...

A native of Chicago’s South Side, Nancy Johnson worked for more than a decade as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC. More recently, she’s the author of  The Kindest Lie  and her latest novel,  People of Means . On today’s show, Annmarie and Nancy discuss the call to activism, and what makes some people enter the fight for racial justice while others step away. Th...

A native of Chicago’s South Side, Nancy Johnson worked for more than a decade as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC. More recently, she’s the author of The Kindest Lie and her latest novel, People of Means. On today’s show, Annmarie and Nancy discuss the call to activism, and what makes some people enter the fight for racial justice while others step away. This s...

Kristen Arnett, aka “America’s Favorite Dad,” is the queer Floridian author of With Teeth, and the New York Times bestselling novel Mostly Dead Things, both of which were finalists for the Lambda Literary Award in fiction. She runs the substack “ Dad Lessons ,” and her latest novel, STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE , is out now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Kristen discuss clowning, lesbians, Orl...

Kristen Arnett, aka “America’s Favorite Dad,” is the queer Floridian author of With Teeth, and the New York Times bestselling novel Mostly Dead Things, both of which were finalists for the Lambda Literary Award in fiction. She runs the substack “Dad Lessons,” and her latest novel, STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE, is out now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Kristen discuss clowning, lesbians, Orland...

Helena Echlin has written for numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic, including The Guardian and The Times . She taught for years at Stanford University and has recently returned to the United Kingdom, where she now teaches fiction writing for Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education. Clever Little Thing is her first psychological thriller. On today’s show, Helena and An...

Helena Echlin has written for numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic, including The Guardian and The Times. She taught for years at Stanford University and has recently returned to the United Kingdom, where she now teaches fiction writing for Oxford University’s Department of Continuing Education. Clever Little Thing is her first psychological thriller. On today’s show, Helena and Ann...

Rebe Huntman is a memoirist, essayist, dancer, teacher and poet whose debut memoir, My Mother in Havana , is out now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Rebe discuss the magic of dance, communicating with deceased loved ones, and how a search for our mothers can bring us closer to understanding ourselves.  Episode Sponsors Gramercy Books – A locally-owned, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore lo...

Rebe Huntman is a memoirist, essayist, dancer, teacher and poet whose debut memoir, My Mother in Havana, is out now. On today’s show, Annmarie and Rebe discuss the magic of dance, communicating with deceased loved ones, and how a search for our mothers can bring us closer to understanding ourselves.  Episode Sponsors Gramercy Books – A locally-owned, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore loc...

Joseph Earl Thomas is the author of Sink , a memoir, and his debut novel God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer , longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Literary Excellence, and winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. On today’s show, Annmarie and Joseph talk about working-class upbringings, how to write complicated families with sensitivity and grace, and whether or not to raise an alligator i...

Joseph Earl Thomas is the author of Sink, a memoir, and his debut novel God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer, longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Literary Excellence, and winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. On today’s show, Annmarie and Joseph talk about working-class upbringings, how to write complicated families with sensitivity and grace, and whether or not to raise an alligator in...

Malaka Gharib is the author of I Was Their American Dream , a graphic memoir about being first-generation Filipino Egyptian American, and It Won't Always Be Like This , a graphic memoir about her summers in the Middle East. On today’s show, Annmarie and Malaka talk about the American immigrant experience, how to be a working writer, and what it means to be the realization of our parents’ greatest...

Malaka Gharib is the author of I Was Their American Dream, a graphic memoir about being first-generation Filipino Egyptian American, and It Won't Always Be Like This, a graphic memoir about her summers in the Middle East. On today’s show, Annmarie and Malaka talk about the American immigrant experience, how to be a working writer, and what it means to be the realization of our parents’ greatest dr...

In her 60s, after decades as a psychotherapist, marital counselor, and work and family consultant, Leah Fisher embarked upon solo trips to multiple countries to see whether she could connect across cultures, participate in community projects, and try to be “of use.” On today’s show, Leah joins us to speak about her new memoir, My Marriage Sabbatical , and to discuss what is lost and gained when co...

In her 60s, after decades as a psychotherapist, marital counselor, and work and family consultant, Leah Fisher embarked upon solo trips to multiple countries to see whether she could connect across cultures, participate in community projects, and try to be “of use.” On today’s show, Leah joins us to speak about her new memoir, My Marriage Sabbatical, and to discuss what is lost and gained when cou...

Regina Brett is a two-time Pulitzer finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of  God Never Blinks . Her latest book is  Little Detours and Spiritual Adventures . On today’s show, Annmarie and Regina talk about their Catholic upbringings, cancer survival, best and worst Christmases, and what it means to be a slice of God for other people. Episode Sponsors: Loganberry Books  – An independe...

Regina Brett is a two-time Pulitzer finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of God Never Blinks. Her latest book is Little Detours and Spiritual Adventures. On today’s show, Annmarie and Regina talk about their Catholic upbringings, cancer survival, best and worst Christmases, and what it means to be a slice of God for other people. Episode Sponsors: Loganberry Books – An independently...

John Roedel is a poet, writer, comic, storyteller, and terrible dancer who gained unexpected notability as a writer and poet through Facebook conversations. His latest book is Wonder Ache . On today’s show, Annmarie and John talk about their Catholic upbringings, the places where faith meets doubt, and how to show up for others with more vulnerability and truth.   Episode Sponsors: Bonsai Books in...

John Roedel is a poet, writer, comic, storyteller, and terrible dancer who gained unexpected notability as a writer and poet through Facebook conversations. His latest book is WonderAche. On today’s show, Annmarie and John talk about their Catholic upbringings, the places where faith meets doubt, and how to show up for others with more vulnerability and truth.   Episode Sponsors: Bonsai Books in C...

David Allen Edmonds taught German and English for 43 years at three Cleveland-area high schools, Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State university. His high school experiences form the setting for his Joe Lehrer Mystery novels and the short stories in his Faculty Lounge series. Today on the show, Dave and Annmarie talk about book banning, small town romance, and the opportunities and costs...

David Allen Edmonds taught German and English for 43 years at three Cleveland-area high schools, Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State university. His high school experiences form the setting for his Joe Lehrer Mystery novels and the short stories in his Faculty Lounge series. Today on the show, Dave and Annmarie talk about book banning, small town romance, and the opportunities and costs...

Queer poet and writer Cass Donish is the author of three books including The Year of the Femme, Beautyberry, and the new poetry collection  Your Dazzling Death . Today on the show, Cass and Annmarie talk about grief, queer love, and how to heal in the face of suicide loss. Episode Sponsors: Prairie Lights Books  – Iowa City’s premier indie bookstore since 1978. Perhaps the strength of our reputati...